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A worried grandmother consults Professor Tanya Byron on her fears that her teenage grandson shows no empathy with others

My grandson is 14 and, in my non-professional opinion, suffers from
autistic tendencies among other things.

He is somewhat hyperactive, suffered from tics when younger and is of above
average intelligence according to tests. He has a sister aged 12 who has a
happy and placid disposition and gets on well with him.

I am concerned about my grandson’s future. He has an impulsive and volatile
personality and has always seemed incapable of taking any responsibility for
any problems he encounters. He calls his brother (who has some learning
difficulties) a “mental retard” but flatly refuses to recognise (because he